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A tornado itself is not a cloud, though it is often made visible by one. A cloud is a mass of tiny water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air. The vast majority of clouds are not violent in any way.

A tornado is a violently rotating vortex of wind that connects to the base of a thunderstorm and the ground, capable of causing significant damage. The cloud associated with a tornado is called a funnel. This cloud is unique in terms of the violent rotation with in it and for the fact that it will often be in contact with the ground.

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What clouds are inside a tornado?

The only cloud you will actually find inside a tornado is the condensation funnel. Other clouds, such as the wall cloud and cumulonimbus are outside the tornado itself.


Is a tornado a big cloud?

No, a tornado is a violent, rotating wind storm. The funnel cloud formed by a tornado is usually small compared with other clouds.


What should you look for to warn of a possible tornado?

funnel clouds. Other signs that a tornado may soon occur include a lowering of the cloud base and rotation in the clouds during a thunderstorm.


What cumulonimbus cloud forms from a tornado?

None do. It is the other way around. Tornadoes form from cumulonimbus clouds.


What is the relation between a funnel cloud and a tornado?

A funnel cloud is a rotating cloud that extends downward from a thunderstorm, while a tornado is a funnel cloud that has touched the ground. In other words, all tornadoes start as funnel clouds, but not all funnel clouds develop into tornadoes.


How is a cirrus cloud different from other clouds?

A cirrus cloud is much, much higher in the sky then other clouds. It's made up of ice crystals, and it's an whisp-like form.


Do tornadoes always come from a wall cloud?

No, tornadoes can occur without a visible wall cloud. While a wall cloud can be a precursor to tornado formation, tornadoes can also develop from other types of storm clouds or even from the cloud base itself.


Is a tornado called a funnel cloud in the ocean?

No. A tornado on the ocean or some other body of water is called a waterspout. A funnel cloud is a tornado that has not yet touched down.


What do you call a cloud that looks like all the other clouds?

A cloud that looks like all the other clouds is simply called a "cumulus cloud." Cumulus clouds are a common type of fluffy, white cloud that often resemble cotton balls.


Why does a tornado have to touch the ground to be a tornado?

By the meteorological definition a tornado extends from cloud base to the ground. If it does not, it cannot produce damage. However, just because the visible funnel doesn't touch the ground doesn't mean the strong winds don't. It is the vortex of wind which defines a tornado, not the funnel.


What is between the highest and the lowest cloud?

Other clouds


What is one indicator that a thunderstorm may produce a tornado?

One indicator that a thunderstorm may produce a tornado is the presence of a rotating wall cloud. This is a large, lowering cloud that exhibits rotation at the base of a thunderstorm. When combined with other factors such as strong winds and changing weather conditions, it may increase the likelihood of tornado formation.